SOS Children’s Villages celebrates 35 years in Sri Lanka
View(s):SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka marked a significant milestone as they celebrated their 35th year of operations in Sri Lanka.The celebration was commemorated with an unveiling of an official 35th anniversary logo which took place at the very first SOS Children’s Village in Piliyandala last week. The event was attended by SOS management, members of the SOS Children’s Villages, media and other invitees.
Founded by Dr. Hermann Gmeiner, the SOS Children’s Villages is an international organisation working actively around the world for over 60 years providing secure and loving homes for children. Dr. Gmeiner, an Austrian, pioneered the concept of bringing up orphaned children not in a regular orphanage, but giving them the security and quality care of a proper home, the love and care of a “Mother” and a framework of sibling relationships providing them emotional security for a lifetime.
Speaking on the occasion, Ananda Karunarathne, National Director, SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka said, “At SOS Children’s Villages we have strived hard to keep up the principles handed down to us from Dr. Gmeiner. His unparalleled work has always been a source of inspiration for us which drives our endeavours of providing every child in need a home.”
“The holistic development of a child under parents helps the child develop better reasoning, skills, higher IQ levels and much better health which in turn makes him/her into a productive citizen of the country. And any alternate care model that aims to provide a family like environment to a vulnerable child will help in building a strong nation with healthy and happy children. This message was re–iterated today on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka which has been proudly providing family based care to parentless children over the last three decades.”
“When I came here I saw that all the families live together, forming a supportive village environment where we were able to enjoy a happy childhood. My SOS mother built a close relationship with all of us and we trusted her to provide us with the security, love and stability that each child needed. Through this each child learned to participate and contribute in society and live as good citizens,” said Sashini Maheshika, former child of the SOS Children’s Village in Piliyandala.